Drinking in general is a controversial topic, but gray area drinking is causing quite a stir. Psychology Today defines it “as in any gray area of life, gray area drinking isn’t clearly defined; it’s a zone with fuzzy boundaries that sits between moderate drinking and rock bottom.” By definition, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that moderate or social drinking is one cocktail or less for women in a day and two cocktails or less for men in a day. However, a study by Rand Corporation found that those numbers have doubled to tripled during the pandemic, and respondents reported having two “heavy drinking” days per week.”
Gray area drinking is somewhere between moderate consumption and being an alcoholic and it doesn’t have the effect of physical dependency. As stated above, these people look for reasons to drink whether they’re happy, sad, had a bad week, or any other reason they can think of. They’re not addicted to the point they’re going into withdrawal if they don’t consume every day. This is also being called alcohol use disorder.
It’s not surprising that alcohol sales skyrocketed during the pandemic. People were stuck home looking for new past times to fill their long, boring days. The summer of 2020 was a reality check for me. I realized I was consuming way more than I should have and I’m glad I got a handle on things when I did. Even one drink causes your body to go into panic mode because alcohol is a toxin. Your body stops metabolizing food and focuses on breaking down the alcohol. Here are some of the challenges with gray area consumption:
*Increase in tolerance
*Hangovers affect mood, healthy habits, and career negatively
*Relationships diminish
*Weight gain
*Brain fog
Liver transplants in young women have tripled since the Pandemic. Drinking was the standard because people were forced to assist with school-age learning while working their jobs from home. The acute change pushed people out of their comfort zone. They weren’t prepared for such an abrupt shift, so they started to use drinking at home to relax. This was true whether they had kids or not. Loneliness set in pretty quickly as months turned into years. There were a lot of jokes on social media about “wine o’clock” or “wine mom.” I thought it was hilarious at the time, but this mockery didn’t turn out to be a laughing matter. Pandemic drinking became detrimental and has had lasting consequences on individuals and families.
Kids are noticing their parents over-consuming which is beyond disturbing. Is this the type of role model we want to be for our children? Parents always say they want to protect their kids and say they would do anything for them, but yet they won’t give up the booze. Kids constantly notice their parents with a drink in their hand and for many, it’s become part of their identity. Our culture normalizes this behavior and makes fun of the non-drinkers, which is ridiculous. It might be a good time to break away from people like this if you’re finding yourself not being accepted for being responsible and healthy.
I sold wine for four years and suddenly realized that I can’t continue to do so while promoting a health and wellness blog. It just doesn’t feel right now that I’m doing everything possible to improve myself and create a healthy lifestyle for me and my family. So, I decided to discontinue my position as a wine consultant. I learned a lot and it was a great experience. I met some really nice people along the way that I still keep in touch with. Knowing that I was part of the problem by promoting wine and having it shipped to people’s doorstep during the most vulnerable time is a tough pill to swallow. I do realize we are all responsible for our actions though.
Younger and younger patients are needing liver transplants. During the first year of Covid, there was a sharp rise in deaths due to liver disease among young adults aged 25-34 years old based on the NBC News article, “As Alcohol-Related Liver Disease rises in the US, a Clinic Takes a New Approach to Treatment.” The annual mortality rate is increasing faster in women 37% compared to men 29%, although more men still succumb to the illness (Center for Disease Control.)
We give alcohol too much control over our lives and for what? To cope with everyday issues? There are much better ways of tackling problems than drinking. We think alcohol helps us relax, but it’s quite the opposite. It can negatively affect your sleep and your emotions. After writing this short article and gaining a better understanding of the negative effects of alcohol, I’m having a hard time finding a good reason to drink. I hope you feel the same way also! Below is a list of gray area drinking complications:
*Binge drinking episodes
*Difficulty controlling alcohol intake
*Impaired judgement
*Relationship problems
*Health issues
Furthermore, I’ve included some steps to take into consideration to help make informed choices that support your overall health. By incorporating these mindfulness practices into your approach, you can develop a greater awareness of your alcohol consumption patterns.
*Self-Reflection – study your relationship with alcohol
*Monitor drinking – use an alcohol tracker (I can email one to you)
*Set limits – decide on a set number of drinks per week
*Practice moderation – pace yourself, drink water in between
*Listen to your body – pay attention to how alcohol affects your body, mind, and emotions
*Identify triggers – what cues or emotional stressors lead to increased drinking
*Seek support – reach out to trusted friends, family members, or professionals
*Explore alternatives – look for ways to cope with stress, unwind, or socialize that don’t involve alcohol
*Regular check-ins – assess your progress, reevaluate your goals
If you still want a fancy drink during gatherings or on the weekends, check out The Mindful Mocktail. This website offers really cool, practical recipes. Some only have a few ingredients for simplicity. You can experiment with your own concoctions and create signature mocktails. If you’re in a pinch and want to purchase non-alcoholic beverages at the store or online, read this article in Bon Appetit, “The Non-Alcoholic Drinks You Need To Know About Now.” These drinks have come a long way and really help support an alcohol-free lifestyle. I recently went to “The Dixboro House” in Ann Arbor and they offered several uniquely crafted mocktails on their menu. “Dua Vino” in South Lyon also had great mocktail options.
Was this article enough to question the quantity and frequency of your alcohol consumption? The information is pretty straightforward and not all that surprising. The amount of young people that are dealing with liver disease is really scary. I knew alcohol had no real benefits, but the more I researched the more I realized how detrimental it can be. Is drinking worth losing trusted relationships? Can you justify your health deteriorating? These are good questions to consider.
If you have an occasional drink, then you probably have nothing to worry about. If you’re consuming several drinks on multiple days per week then it might be worth looking into. Talk to your doctor and hear what they have to say and ask questions. I can email you my alcohol tracker or you can download an app that can help you visualize any patterns. Gray area drinking means you may be one step away from life-long problems. I hope you have enough self-worth to make changes if necessary.
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